Space Scan

Black Holes are the most intriguing objects in space. The massive dead stars with intense gravitational force, gobbling every object that comes on its path. Detecting it would help in revealing new information about not only itself, but also will aid in testing the great theories of Physics. This is what scientists are expecting to achieve after the biggest known black hole with a mass of 18 billion Suns has been discovered. We are at a safe distance from the giant at 3.5 billion light years away from it. It is situated at the heart of a quasar QJ287 – this intergalactic source of high-energy electromagnetic radiation is the aid to scientists to help measure the black hole. In fact, there is not a single black hole, but there are two giants — with the smaller one weighing 100 million Suns, orbiting around the larger one. Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity can be verified from the new discovery. It is difficult to measure the dimensions of the black hole, and scientists have to rely on the surrounding electromagnetic radiations and the speed of gas clouds to come to any deductions. The recent discovery will help in testing the theory that black holes could spiral towards each other as they radiate energy in the form of giant gravitational waves. Sometime in the next 100,000 earth years, the two black holes may merge into one another, scientists believe!

Black holes have baffled scientists for a long time. The dense mass of the dead star that has is dense enough to gobble huge planets and stars. Recently astronomers have discovered a powerful black hole blasting a galaxy. Astronomers have earlier witnessed collision between galaxies but this is the first time they have seen collision of such large scale. In a recent discovery a large galaxy called the ‘death star galaxy’ has a jet of high energy particles and magnetic fields emanating from the back hole at its centre that is gobbling a smaller galaxy standing close to it. Black holes are present at the centre of most galaxies. Some galaxies eject powerful jets from the vicinity of the black holes. A Black hole is a hypothetical region of space possessing a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape from it. Such regions are said to form when a star collapses, having used all its nuclear fuel. Smaller stars create supernova explosions when they die leaving neutron star; it is the more massive stars that are believed to create black holes. Though the current discovery shows the black hole feeding on the smaller galaxy causing its death, the strangest fact of such cosmic event is that eventually after the destruction is complete the massive influx of energy and radiation into the smaller galaxy will create new stars and planet – a Sphinx-like rise from the ashes of death. The problem of detecting black holes is that they are unable to emit or reflect any radiation. Earth is safe from the havoc causing actions of black holes. If our solar system came in the line of fire of any jet emanating black hole then the ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere would be destroyed and life on the planet would face mass extinction. How safe is our planet from the scourges of the black holes. Astronomers believe there are two such beasts near the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Source